Body massaging and scrubbing appliance



July 27, 1965 .1a. PERRY 31,196,867

BODY AND SfGREIBBT-NG APPLIANGE Filed March 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l BY'WWQ July 27, 1965 w. J. PERRY BODY MAssAGING AND SGRUBBINQ'fAPmmNaEf.:

Filed March 25, 1963 25 Shaeilshshaei 2i IN VEN TOR.

UnitedStates Patent C 3,196,867 BDY MASSAGING AND SCRUBBING APPLIANCE Walter J. Ferry, Broni/meld, Wis. (1315 S. 124th St., West Allis 14, Wis.) Filed Mar. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 267,483 5 Claims. (Cl. 12S-'56) This invention relates generally to a massaging appliance and more particularly to an improved rotating brush type of body massager.

It is 4a general object of the present invention to provide an improved appliance for massaging and scrubbing the body.

Another obje-ct is to provide an improved rotating brush type of body massager which is especially adapted for massaging the back of a person.

Another object is to provide an improved rotating brush type of body massager that provides a particularly relaxing effect when applied to the body of a person.

A further object is to provide a rotary brush type of body `massager in which the brushes are rotating in pposite directions for producing an especially pleasing and relaxing sensation to the person using it.

A further object is to provide an improved body massager that is very eicient in operation and which is of simple and inexpensive but sturdy construction.

According to this invention the improved massaging appliance comprises a plurality of brushes journalled in a bracket with their axes parallel to each other. A motor is mounted on the bracket and is connected by suitable gearing to simultaneously rotate the several brushes. The gearing is so arranged that adjacent brushes rotate in opposite directions for the purpose of yielding a particularly pleasing and relaxing sensation when applied to the body of a person.

The appliance also includes a spray mechanism for spraying a liquid such as alcohol7 soap or the like upon the body of the person While the brushes are rotating and in engagement with the persons body. The spray of liquid is obtained by compressing a rubber bulb connected to the end of a flexible tube which is in communication with a container that is provided with a supply of the liquid.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, which will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, may be achieved by means of the apparatus ydescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of massaging appliance incorporating the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in vertical .section taken yalong the plane represented by the line 2--2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged plan View of the massaging appliance illustrated in FIGURE l with the drive motor omitted;

FIGURE 4 is a detail sectional view taken yalong the plane represented by the line 4 4 in FIGURE 4 to show the clamping mechanism for locking the appliance in a Selected. vertical position; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view `of the massage appliance shown in FIGURE 1, the various detail parts being shown separated from each other but located in the order of their assembly.

Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings which depict a body massaging and scrubbing appliance incorporating the features of the present invention. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated embodiment provides four cylindrical brushes Ill, 11, 12 and 13 that .are rotatably supported by a bracket or frame which is generally identified by the reference numeral 15.

In order to accommodate the height of the person using the apparatus, the bracket 15 is supported for vertical -adlbii? Patented `l'uly 27, 1965 justrnent by a plate or standard 16 which is iixedly secured to a Wall. For example, it may be convenient to mount the apparatus in a shower stall in which case the plate 16 would be fastened to a wall of the shower stall and the entire appliance may be secured at different heights along the length of the plate 16.

In order to enable the massaging action of the four brushes 10, 11, 12 and 13 to be employed in conjunction with a liquid soap, alcohol, or other embrocation, a spray apparatus generally identied by the reference numeral 20 is provided for directing the selected liquid on the body of the person through apertures formed in a horizontal tube 21.

The bracket 15 comprises a back panel 22 and a pair of vertical side plates 23 and 24, all of which are secured to a top bearing plate 25 and a bottom bearing plate 26. The back panel 22 is secured to the top bearing plate 25 by suitable screws 27 that extend through openings in the panel 22 into threaded engagement with the back edge of the top bearing plate 25. In like manner, the bottom of the panel 22 is fastened to the bottom bearing plate 26 by screws 28 extending through holes along the bottom of the panel 22 into threaded engagement with the rear edge of the bottom bearing plate 26.

The side plates 23 and 24 complete the assembly of the bracket 15. The side plate 23 is attached along its upper edge to the top bearing plate 25' by screws 29 extending through `holes in the plate 23 into threaded engagement with the side edge of the top bearing plate 25. Similarly, the plate 23 is attached to the bottom bearing plate 26 by screws 30 extending through holes formed along the bottom edge of the plate 23 into threaded engagement with the edge of the bottom bearing plate 26. The side plate 24 is attached to the opposite side of the bearing plates 25 `and 26 in identical manner by screws 31 engaging the side edge of the top bearing plate 25 and screws 32 securing the bottom of the plate 24 to the bottom bearing plate 26. For a pleasing appearance, ease of maintenance, resistance to corrosion and cleanliness, it has been found preferable to form the members of the bracket 15 of a suitable plastic material.

Each of the 4brushes 1i), 11, 12 and 13 comprises a core 35 having bristles 36 extending radially therefrom for engagement with the body of the person using the appliance. A plastic material, such as nylon, has been found to be ideal for forming the core 35 and bristles 36 of the brushes in the appliance. The stiffness of the bristles 36 may be varied to accommodate the particular preference of the person who will use the apparatus.

The four brushes 10, 11, 12 and 13 are rotatably supported adjacent to each other with their axes vertically disposed and parallel to each other as clearly shown in FIG. 1. To this end, the upper extremity of each of the cores 35 is provided with a reduced diameter portion 40 that extends above the bristles 36 into bearing engagement with bores 41 formed in the upper bearing plate 25. The lower ends of the cores 35 are likewise provided with reduced diameter portions 42 that extend beyond the bristles 36. Plastic bushings 33 are pressed onto the reduced diameter portions 42 for rotation therewith and are in bearing engagement with bores 44 provided in the lower bearing plate 26, The four brushes 1t), 11, 12 and 13 are successively disposed in the bracket 15 so that the four rotating brushes can simultaneously engage the back of the torso of a human being.

The power for rot-ating the four brushes 1li, 11, 12 and 13 is obtained from `an electric motor Sti mounted on the top bearing plate 25. The output shaft (not shown) of the motor 5d is connected to rotate a vertical drive shaft 51 that is disposed 90 degrees to the horizontal output shaft (not shown) of the motor 5l). The vertical drive shaft S1 is provided with a key 52 for engagement with a cooperating keyway 53 formed in a drive gear 54 so that the latter is rotated by the motor t?. The drive gear 5d is disposed within a recess 55 formed in the bearing plate 25 and is in engagement with an idler gear 56 that is similarly disposed within a recess 57 formed in the bearing plate 25 adjacent to the recess 55.

The drive gear 54 is also in meshing engagement with a gear 60 that is disposed within a recess 61 formed in the top bearing plate 25. The gear 60 is connected to drive the brush 11 by means of a keyway 62 formed in the gear for reception of a key 63 that is also disposed within a suitable keyway formed in the reduced diameter portion 40 of the core 35. The gear 6! is in meshing engagement with a gear 7d that is connected to drive the brush 16 by a key 71 that is disposed within cooperating keyways in the reduced diameter portion d@ and the gear 70. A recess 72 is formed in the top bearing plate 25 for receiving the gear 70, the recess 72 being in communication with the recess 61 to enable the gear 70 to meshingly engage the gear 60 in the recess 61.

The power for driving the brushes 12 and 13 is taken from the idler gear 56 which is in meshing engagement with a gear 73 that, in turn, is in meshing engagement with a like gear 75. The gear 73 is disposed within a recess 76 formed in the top bearing plate 25 and is provided with a keyway 77 that is engaged by a key 78 attached to the reduced diameter portion 40 of the core 35 of the brush 12 for completing a driving connection between the gear 73 and the brush 12. In like manner, the gear 75 is disposed within a recess 79 formed in the top bearing plate 25 and having communication with the recess 76 to enable the gear 75 to meshingly engage the gear 73. The gear 75 is connected to rotate the brush 13 by a key 89 disposed within cooperating keyways formed in both the reduced diameter portion 4t) of the brush 13 and the gear 75.

It is thus apparent that the drive for rotating the brushes and 11 is transmitted from the drive gear 54 to the gear 6i? for driving the brush 11 and the gear 60, in turn, is in meshing engagement with the gear 7)` for rotating the brush 10. The power for rotating the brushes 12 and 13 is transmitted from the drive gear 54 to the idler gear 56 which is in meshing engagement with the gear 73 for rotating the brush 12. The gear 73, in turn, is in meshing engagement with the gear 75 for rotating the brush 13. It will be noted that the entire gear train for driving the brushes is disposed within recesses formed in the top of the bearing plate 25. In order to protect these gears as well as the person using the appliance, the gears are covered by a cover plate 68 fastened to the top surface of the bearing plate 25 by screws 69 as best seen in FIG. 5. This arrangement serves to enclose the several gears of the train within their associated recesses.

The idler gear 56 is provided so that each brush is rotating in adirection opposite to the direction of rotation of its adjacent brushes for the purpose of obtaining an improved massaging effect on the body of the person using the appliance. It has been found that a far more pleasing and relaxing sensation is obtained from two adjacent rotating brushes if they are rotating in the opposite directions than if they are rotating in the same direction. The opposite rotating brushes produce an effect that is similar to the kneading process performed in manual massaging manipulation. This pleasing effect is multiplied in the exemplary embodiment by providing three elongated areas of oppositely rotating brushes in engagement with the body of the person by the provision of tour brushes with each brush rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of its adjacent brushes.

Thus, assuming that the drive gear 54 is rotating in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, the gear 60 will be rotating in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow S1. Since the gear is in meshing engagement with the gear 6), the latter will be rotating in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow S2, Since the brushes 10 and 11 are xed to rotate with the gears 7G and @it respectively, they likewise will be rotating in opposite directions so that the brush 19' produces a massaging action upon the skin of the person toward the brush 11 and the brush 11 produces the same massaging action in the opposite direction toward the brush 10. Since the gear 73 is driven by the drive gear 54 through the idler gear 56 it is rotating in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 83 which is opposite to the clockwise direction of the gear 6d. Accordingly, the associated brushes 12 and 11 respectively, are likewise rotating in opposite directions to tend to spread the skin of the user along the elongated areas of contact of the two brushes 11 and 12 for providing the desired effect. The end brush 13 is rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed from the top which is opposite to the direction of rotation of the brush 12 by virtue of the intermeshing engagement of the gears 73 and that are connected to drive the brushes 12 and 13 respectively. As a result, the cooperating brushes 12 and 13 tend to massage the skin inwardly toward each other along an elongated area of the body. it is therefore apparent, that the four brushes rotating in the specific directions described, produce three elongated areas along which the skin of the person using the appliance is being massaged in opposite directions tending to either spread the skin or draw it together for providing a kneading effect which yields an extremely pleasant and relaxing sensation to the person.

The spray apparatus 20 for applying a solution to the body of the person comprises a container 85 mounted on the side plate 24. The container 85 may be lled with the desired solution through a suitable opening that is closed by a removable cap 86. The solution is forced out of the container S5 by compressing a flexible spray bulb of well known construction which is in communication with the interior of the container 85 by means of a exible tube 91. The compression of the bulb 90 creates a pressure within the container 85 to force the liquid contained therein through a vertical tube 92 that is connected to the horizontal tube 21. Since the outer end 94 of the horizontal tube 21 is sealed, the liquid will be forced through apertures 93 out of the tube 21. The tube 21 is disposed within the bracket 21 behind the rotating brushes 10, 11, 12 and 13 as illustrated in FTGS. 2 and 5, so that the liquid discharged through the apertures will wetten the rotating brushes and will also be applied directly to the body of the person.

lf the appliance is utilized in a shower stall it may be desirable to ll the container 85 with a soap solution for application to the back with the rotating brushes scrubbing the back while the soap solution is being applied. On the other hand, if it is desired to use the appliance primarily for massage purposes, the container 85 may be filled with alcohol or other massaging lotion that can be applied to the body of the person by manipulating the bulb 9) while the massaging action is being effected by the rotating brushes.

The appliance is secured to the plate 16 at the selected height by a clamping mechanism generally identified by the reference numeral 95 and clearly illustrated in FIG. 4. As there shown, the clamping mechanism 95 comprises a T nut 96 disposed within a T slot 97 extending vertically through the entire length of the plate 16. The nut 96 is in threaded engagement with a stud 98 that extends forwardly therefrom through a hole 99 formed in the back panel 22 between the two center brushes 11 and 12 and beyond the outer diameter of the brushes. The opposite end of the stud 98 is engaged by a cooperating thread formed in a ball 100 and a spacer 101 embraces the stud 98 between the ball 100 and the back panel 22.

To adjust the location of the appliance along the plate 16 it is only necessary for the person effecting the adjustment t rotate the ball lili) to loosen the T nut 96 in the T slot 97 to permit the entire appliance to be readily raised or lowered to the desired height moving the T nut 96 with it along the elongated T slot 97. When the appliance is located in the desired position, the ball 100 is rotated to tighten it against the spacer lill and draw the T nut 96 toward the back plate 22 in its cooperating T slot 97 for locking the appliance in the selected location.

From the foregoing detailed description of the construction and operation of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention it will become apparent that a new and improved body massaging and scrubbing appliance has been provided in which the massaging and scrubbing eifect is obtained from a plurality of rotating brushes disposed adjacent to each other in parallel relationship with an improved massaging effect being obtained by rotating each brush in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of its adjacent brushes. ln addition, suitable spray apparatus is provided in the appliance for applying a desired solution to the body of the person while the brushes are operating.

Although the illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described in considerable detail for the purpose of making a full disclosure of a practical operative arrangement by means of which the invention may be practised, it is to be understood that various novel features of the invention may be incorporated in other arrangements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

The principles of the invention having now been fully explained in connection with the foregoing description of embodying structure, I hereby claim as my invention:

1. In an appliance for massaging the body of a person; a back panel; a first bearing plate fixed to `said back panel and extending therefrom; a second bearing plate fixed to said back panel and extending therefrom, said second bearing plate having a plurality of recesses opening into each other; at least three cylindrical brushes disposed between said bearing plates with one end of each of said brushes journaled in said first bearing plate and the other end of each of said brushes journaled in said second bearing plate, the axes of said brushes being parallel to each other and disposed so that the cylindrical surfaces of said several brushes can simultaneously engage the back of the torso of a person; a plurality of gears rotatably disposed in the recesses of said second bearing plate in intermeshing relationship to constitute a gear train for rotating said brushes in unison so that pairs of said brushes have their cylindrical surfaces moving away from each other as they contact the back of the person to tend to spread the skin of the person along elongated areas while other pairs of said brushes are rotating in directions to move their cylindrical surfaces into contact with the back of the person toward each other to tend to draw the skin together along elongated areas for producing a pleasant and relaxing sensation to the person using the appliance, the ends of said brushes that are journalled in said second bearing plate being coupled to said gears for rotation therewith; a cover plate fixed to said second bearing plate to overlie the recesses and enclose said gears therein; and a source of power connected to drive said gear train for rotating said brushes.

2. In an appliance for massaging the body of a person; a bracket; at least three cylindrical brushes rotatably supported by said bracket with each brush being adjacent to the succeeding brush and their axes being parallel to each other and disposed so that the cylindrical surfaces of said several brushes can simultaneously engage the back of the torso of a human body; a source of power; and transmission means connected to transmit the power from `said source for rotating said brushes in unison with each brush being rotated about its axis in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the brushes adjacent to it; whereby the cylindrical surfaces of two of said brushes in contact with the back of the person are moving away from each other in alternate elongated areas to tend to spread the skin, while in the other alternate elongated areas the cylindrical surfaces of two brushes in contact with the back of the person are moving toward each other to tend to draw the skin together for producing a pleasant and relaxing sensation to the person using the appliance.

3. In an appliance for massaging the body of a person; a bracket having a hole; at least three cylindrical brushes rotatably supported by said bracket with each brush being adjacent to the succeeding brush and their axes being parallel to each other and disposed so that the cylindrical surfaces of said several brushes can simultaneously engage the back of the torso of a human body; a source of power; transmission means connected to transmit the power from said source for rotating said brushes in unison with each brush being rotated about its axis in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the brushes adjacent to it so that the cylindrical surfaces of pairs of said brushes are moving away from each other as they are in contact with the back of the person to tend to spread the skin along alternate elongated areas, while in the other alternate elongated areas the cylindrical surfaces of pairs of said brushes are moving toward each other as they are in contact with the back of the person to tend to draw the skin together so that the combined action produces an especially pleasing sensation to the person using the appliance; a standard having a T slot extending along its length; a T nut slidably disposed within the T slot of said standard; a stud in threaded engagement with said T nut and extending through the hole in said bracket; and a handle secured to said stud 'for threading said stud onto said nut to tighten said handle against said bracket for securely clamping said bracket between said handle and said standard in any desired position along said standard.

4. In an appliance for massaging the body of a person; a frame; a irst bearing plate supported by said frame; a second bearing plate supported by said frame and having a plurality of recesses opening into each other; at least three cylindrical brushes disposed between said bearing plates with one end of each of said brushes journaled in said rst bearing plate and the other end of each of said brushes journaled in said second bearing plate, the axes of said brushes being parallel to each other and disposed so that the cylindrical surfaces of said several brushes can simultaneously engage the back of the torso of a person; a plurality of gears rotatably disposed in the recesses of said second bearing plate in intermeshing relationship to constitute a gear train for rotating said brushes in unison with each brush being rotated about its axis in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the brushes adjacent to it so that the cylindrical surfaces of pairs of said brushes are moving away from each other as they are in contact with the back of the person to tend to spread the skin along alternate elongated areas, while in the other alternate elongated areas the cylindrical surfaces of pairs of said brushes are moving toward each other as they are in contact with the back of the person to tend to draw the skin together so that the combined action produces an especially pleasing sensation to the person using the appliance, the ends of said brushes that are journalled in said second bearing plate being coupled to said gears for rotation therewith; a cover plate fixed to said second bearing plate to overlie the recesses and enclose said gears therein; a source of power connected to drive said gear train for rotating said brushes; a liquid container mounted on said frame for receiving a solution; la tubing in communication with said liquid container and mounted to extend across said frame behind said brushes, said tubing having a plurality of apertures spaced along its length and opening toward said brushes; and means operable by the person using the appliance to force the solution in said liquid container into said tubing to be sprayed through its apertures onto :said brushes as Well as onto the body of the person using the appliance.

5. In an appliance for massaging the body of a person; a bracket; a plurality of cylindrical brushes rotatably supported by said bracket with each brush being adjacent to the succeeding brush and their axes being parallel to each other and disposed so that the cylindrical surfaces of said several brushes can simultaneously engage the back of the torso of a human body; and means connected to rotate said brushes in unison so that pairs of said brushes have their cylindrical surfaces moving away from each other as they contact the back of the person to tend to spread the skin of the person along elongated areas While other pairs of said brushes are rotating to S move their cylindrical surfaces into contact with the back of the person toward each other to tend to draw the skin together along elongated areas for producing a pleasant and relaxing sensation to the person using the appliance.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,192,314L 7/16 Howlett 12S-56 X 1,833,426 11/31 Knudson 12S-62 X 2,003,272 5/35 Betz 128-59 2,248,205 7/41 Stobbe 128-66 X 3,008,161 11/61 Jensen 15-21 3,078,484 2/63 Briggs 128-66 X 3,081,471 3/63 Newell 4-158 X 3,091,776 6/63 Roberts 12S-56 X RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. 

2. IN A APPLIANCE FOR MASSAGING THE BODY OF A PERSON; A BRACKETY; AT LEAST THREE CYLINDRICAL BRUSHES ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID BRACKET WITH EACH BRUSH BEING ADJACENT TO THE SUCCEEDING BRUSH AND THEIR AXES BEING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND DISPOSED SO THAT THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACES OF SAID SEVERAL BRUSHES CAN SIMULTANEOYSLY ENGAGE THE BACK OF THE TORSO OF A HUMAN BODY; A SOURCE OF POWER; AND TRANSMISSION MEANS CONNECTED TO TRANSMIT THE POWER FROM SAID SOURCE FOR ROTATING SAID BRUSHES IN UNISON WITH EACH BRUSH BEING ROTATED ABOUT ITS AXIS IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE BRUSHES ADJACENT TO IT; WHEREBY THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACES OF TWO OF SAID BRUSHES IN CONTACT WITH THE BACK OF THE PERSON ARE MOVING AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN ALTERNATE ELONGATED AREAS TO TEND TO SPREAD THE SKIN, WHILE IN THE OTHER ALTERNATE ELONGATED AREAS THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACES OF TWO BRUSHES IN CONTACT WITH THE BACK OF THE PERSON ARE MOVING TOWARD EACH OTHER TO TEND TO DRAW THE SKIN TOGETHER FOR PRODUCING A PLEASANT AND RELAXING SENSATION TO THE PERSON USING THE APPLIANCE. 